Traditional Leverguns Deer Hunt (Results)

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:12 am

I hosted a Traditional Deer Hunt in New York. The rules are simple:
1. No rifles manufactured after 1970 (but a repro or one still currently produced is okay)
2. No magnifying optics
3. Ammunition that was produced in or prior to 1970 (or something similar, ie: no hard plastic tips, gummy tips, etc.)
4. No modern camoflauge
5. No scent killer type sprays
6. No climbing tree stands
7. No use of motorized vehicles to get into hunting areas
8. No cell phones or 2-way radios
9. No modern game hoists or power winches
10. Knives and cutlery manufactured prior to 1970

The hunters used 30WCF, 250-3000 Savage, 300 Savage, 35 Rem, one 12 gauge Browning A-5 with bead only and traditional slugs (actually made in 1968). The "newest" firearm in this group was made in 1966. Two had vintage peep sights and the remaining factory open sights. Most of the hunters were wearing red/black plaid and old high leather boots. A few wore OD Green from WWII or Korean War era. One wore buckskin/sheeps wool clothing.

When asked if they could choose just ONE piece of modern equipment to go with their traditional garb what would it be - the answer surprised me - Boots! Cold and wet feet were the main complaints and the greatest hardship. If you'd like to try a great slice of history - try our Traditional Deer Camp in 2010 by contacting www.tarsporting.com

FLINT · Post by **FLINT** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:35 am

Thats awesome man. I love that you did that. I'm all about keeping it simple.

thats pretty much the way I hunt all the time. well, except, my marlin 336 was made after 1970 - but i'm sure its technologically the same as any earlier one.

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:53 am

My personal deer hunting would have met your criteria with the exception of my camo, cutlery, and date of rifle manufacture. So now I have to ask, why the 1970 cut of date?

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:59 am

Good question Nemhed. The guys wanted to hunt with the stuff their fathers and grandfathers used. Based on the age of the group 1970 was the cut off because some of the fathers were just getting into hunting then and had the latest gear up to that year.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:15 am

That's pretty neat. I'm not getting the gun thing. Getting old I guess. Could a Winchester Model 94 made in 1985 have been used? If a repro could have been used, why not a Model 94 made after 1970. Not important -- anyway, it's satisfying to hunt "old school" so-to-speak.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:21 am

Very cool. I'd be hard pressed to pick between my MN 91/30 & my Drilling for that though.

The rest would be pretty straight forward because that's how I hunt anyway.

(The knives thing would be sort of difficult though...)

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:40 am

Great idea! I wouldn't mind if the cut off year was 1870.

Congratulations to all.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:42 am

My kind of hunting.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:53 am

I have the rifle and cutlery covered ( assuming someone could sharpen them for me ) and I'm sure I could do without the cell and GPS and other nonsensical gadgets.

86er,
I don't remember seeing this posted on Leverguns, did I miss it? Not that I could have made it, but I'd like to some day.

To the successful hunters, congratulations. Looks like my kind of hunting.

Joe

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:00 pm

WONDERFUL !!! THIS IS THE BEST HUNTING STORY I'VE READ THIS SEASON. IT TAKES ME BACK TO MY YOUTH.

44magHunter · Post by **44magHunter** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:10 pm

Sounds very awsome. Did all the hunters in the group get their deer? Pretty cool either way.

Tumbleweeds II · Post by **Tumbleweeds II** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:14 pm

My feet were actually pretty comfortable during the 1970 season. I wore two pairs of socks, hi-top tennis shoes, and a pair of galoshes. Otherwise, you wore the (legally required) orange vest and cap, your usual work clothes, and a hunting knife.

We did like to paddle across an inlet of the lake in a jon boat and launch a surprise amphib attack before daylight on opening day. Good times.

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:27 pm

Two hunters out of 7 did not get a deer. They both had shot opportunities but neither applied for the DMP that would have allowed them to take a doe. This hunt sold out when first advertised on my website so it never made it to the forum for offering.

RKrodle · Post by **RKrodle** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:28 pm

THAT is real cool and would be alot of fun to do! I would have to melt a lot of wax and oil into my Russell's to keep my feet dry and warm up there.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:57 pm

How cool is that! I wouldn't mind something like that myself. Getting away from society (no cell phones) and doing it following the footsteps of our predecessors would be the cat's meow.

Warhawk · Post by **Warhawk** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:00 pm

What are the chances of the Texas levergunners hog hunt having these rules?

Maybe in the future?

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:21 pm

Another Traditional Deer Camp will be planned for next year with more locations added.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:36 pm

Thats real impressive 86er and good on you sir

My leather boots get dubbed with wool fat melted with olive oil, that good sticky goo looks after leather a treat.

Nath.

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:55 pm

Great!! Except possibly for the footgear, this is how deer hunting should be!! I hunted like that years ago, and remember all too well the cold feet that went with rubber uninsulated boots, or soaking wet leather boots (even when "treated" with the greases of the day. Footgear is way better now--and still can look like the old leather of the past after being worn a while. All in all, you've done a great thing with this--and even if nobody got anything, it still would have been a great thing. You've put fair chase and woodsmanship back into hunting. Thanks much!!!

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:10 pm

Reminds me of when i was a kid in the mountains of NY.
Blue jeans, red and black plad shirts, and an old shooter....

Bet it was fun!

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 2:30 pm

I failed to add my congratulations to all involved in my previous post!

336A · Post by **336A** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:15 pm

That is just my style of hunting right there. Ok with the exception of the scope on my 336A, and the lined new fangled camo shirt I happen to be wearing in the photo below.

However in my defense I do wear leather Red Wing boots (Logger style) and no scent control anything. IMHO being able to read wind and getting upwind of your quarry is a valuable field craft that many folks don't think about, use , or plain out lost. When I was a teenager I'll never forget squirrel hunting after school. I was sitting at the base of a huge oak waiting on the bushy tails in a lined shirt, old jeans, and some Carolina boots. I heard some leaves rustle to my left when I looked in that direction I almost messed myself

There was a doe only about 10yd away looking right through me. That is when the whole wind concept really hit me. She went about eating and looking at me for about 2 min before deciding to leave, or she finally caught wind of me.

It just makes one a much better hunter when they think about wind direction in relation to their setup. I don't have access to any vintage 1970 ammo but I think Federal Powershoks are in the same class as vintage Rem and Win bullets. You will never catch me hunting from any kind of elevated stand period and for that matter a manufactured blind either. I don't own a time period knife so I'm out there as well. The biggest thing though is I never take a cell phone hunting. When I'm hunting I don't need no one calling or want to hear from anyone. If they can't leave a message then it can't be that important

I hope the blaze orange don't count against me either. I grew up in the Southern Tier region of NY and would not hunt with out during deer season for any reason. Way to many hunting accidents happen down there due to people not paying attention and properly identifying their target before shooting

COSteve · Post by **COSteve** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:21 pm

Well, since the last time I deer hunted was before I went into the Army in '67, I can say that I've never hunted any other way!

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:35 pm

SRC 1915 circa 30wcf. buck general knife. m65 fieldjacket. the boots are a problem,though

tman · Post by **tman** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:39 pm

come to think of it , i have a pair of canadian sorels that my father bought me in 1972. can i wear them?

stew71 · Post by **stew71** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:46 pm

Marlin 336 30-30, Buck 110 folder, red Carhart's long sleeve shirt, OD BDU pants. No blaze orange. Hate that stuff.

Modern Danner boots though. No compromise there. You can keep your old leather boots.

Also, my eyesight dictates a scope so the Marlin wears an old Redfield 4x.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:53 pm

Excellent! Sounds fantastic, and it sure was successful!

stew71 · Post by **stew71** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:59 pm

Jeez...where are my manners?!?!?

Congratulations on a great hunt!

336A · Post by **336A** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:10 pm

Oh I almost forgot to extend a big congratulations to all involved.

2X22 · Post by **2X22** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:30 pm

Yup, purty cool hunt!

Sounds like the way I have hunted since 1968 till now though. The only difference is other than the old 25-35 I used to use, I more often than not now use a Marlin Cowboy in .44 or 38-55.

2x22

86er · Post by **86er** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:46 pm

A few comments:

Some folks either got the wrong idea or didn't read thoroughly. The ammo doesn't have to be old, just a design that was available during the era you are emulating. So new Remington Core Lokt, Winchester Power Points or Federal Hi- Power would work. Scopes are Okay as long as they are vintage to the same era (personally I would say any manufacturer with a current design like the old timers is okay - for instance a new Redfield 4X). Boots can be new, but no Thermofil insulation or cordura, gore-tex and other modern materials. I suggest the parameters for the hunt but each individual group finalizes their own rules. It isn't a contest just some friendly restrictions. Anything is possible!

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:56 pm

AND LONG JOHNS ONLY. NO BOXER SHORTS, T-SHIRTS, OR INSULATED SHIRTS.

papabear · Post by **papabear** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 6:53 pm

Joe sounds like every one had a grate hunt Congratulation to the one's who gotten there deer to those who did not I'm sorry to hear that but I'm shore you had a grate time any way i hunted with Joe quite often and all ways enjoyed my self
I would love to give it try my self

win7094M1 · Post by **win7094M1** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:04 pm

This sounds great! Do you have any idea of future locations yet, possibly closer to the Mid-Atlantic region in an area where rifles are allowed? My teenage son and I are very interested in a future hunt of this type. My M94 30-30 and my Win M70 with the current scope removed or changed hopefully will satify the rules. The cutlery, clothing, and footwear will take more work to comply with the rules. BTW, our congratulations to this year's participants.

Bigahh · Post by **Bigahh** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:35 pm

Terry Murbach wrote:AND LONG JOHNS ONLY.

Yes, brings back memories of my Grampa. Wisconsin has a 9 day Gun Deer season, he had 3 sets of the 1 piece Long underwear that were wool. Have not seen them since. He never got cold at least thats what he always said. He changed them every 3 days, and I think that was the only time he took the darn things off except maybe for the outhouse walks!

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:48 pm

Sounds like a regular hunting season to me. Except I have to wear orange by law. Otherwise I use layers and wool . The boots are only a big thing if I'm sitting for a long time. We also have a century gun hunt during doe only season. I have a Krag and Marlin that qualifies for the 100 year old milestone.

It sounds like a great hunt !

2X22 · Post by **2X22** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 11:14 am

Bigahh wrote:
Terry Murbach wrote:AND LONG JOHNS ONLY.
he had 3 sets of the 1 piece Long underwear that were wool. Have not seen them since. He never got cold at least thats what he always said.

Yep, got 5 pairs myself! I was next in line when my wifes Grandfather passed away and I got his left-overs. He used them for at least 30 years and I've been using them for another 24 years

2x22

Retro · Post by **Retro** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:30 pm

Fsck. 1970. This makes me feel so old.

OK, I was like 3 in 1970. But I have very few guns made after 1970.

I'd guess about 3/4 or more of my guns were made a decade or more before 1970.

1950 is history. 1970 is just the other day.

jerry b · Post by **jerry b** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:29 pm

Great! So, everyone had to actually....like....hunt.

No small houses like are getting popular in northern PA with heat, 1/4 keg on tap, and the game on TV? No Super-Duper-Shorter-Snorter cartridges and 18x scopes?

Cool.
Sounds fun and satisfying.

LeverBob · Post by **LeverBob** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:52 am

All I can say is Well Done 86er, a hunt in "old school" style.

LB

Rifleman · Post by **Rifleman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:06 am

336A wrote:You will never catch me hunting from any kind of elevated stand period and for that matter a manufactured blind either.

Same here, if I sit while deer hunting I'll fall asleep. I love sleeping in the snow, I don't know why, it is relaxing or something.

donniedee · Post by **donniedee** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:13 pm

dripping springs texas here would LOVE to jojn this next season huntin with my new winchester 30wcf src 20in open sites and grandpaws old hunting knife.... keeps us posted on the next hunt IM IN:)